Device producing ornamental bubble effects and method



Nov. 9, 1948. A. ABRAMsoN ,1

DEVICE PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL BUBBLE EFFECTS AND METHOD Filed Feb. 21,1946 .62, p I /g; wag 2 #TTTOIQ VEY 4BA 4/7 AM flfiPAMSON Patented Nov.9, 1948 DEVICE PRODUCING ORNAMEN-TAL BUBBLE EFFECTS AND METHOD AbrahamAbramson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Raylice Electric Corp, Bronx, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1945, Serial No.649,157

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of bubble-ornament devices,and more particularly is drected to the constructions of such device anda method of operating same.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve devices ofthe character described and the method of operation thereof which shallcomprise few and easily assembled parts, which shall be economical tomanufacture and adapted for quantity production so as to provide a cheapand inexpensve product, which shall be dependable and reliable inoperation requiring a minimum of external heat supply, and which shallbe practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

This invention is a continuation in part to the subject matter coveredin applicants like copending applications filed herewith andapplications S. N. 598,569 (Patent No. 2,412,379) and 598,570, filedJune 9, 1945, for Decorative illuminated devices and method.

Other objects accordingly consist of features of constructions andmethod, combinations of elements, arrangement of parts and steps inoperation which will be exemplified in the constructions and methodhereinafter described andof which the scope of the application willindicate in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which possible ilustrative embodiments ofthe invention are shown:

Fig, l is a front elevational view, partly broken awa to expose theinterior, showing a bubbleornament device constructed to embody theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front ele vational View of the deviceshown in Fig. 1.

-Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a modified formof the invention constructed with a different diaphragm.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view like Fig. a showinganother modified construction embodying the inventiomand Fig. 7 is across sectional view taken on line l--'l in Fig. 6.

,Heretofore ornamental bubbling devices of the.

character described used for various purposes required a high degree ofskill in manufacture and assembly to obtain reliable predetermineddesired result and reproductions. In the present invention such devicesare made simple in construction and in method of operation, yet operatewith positive assurance to give predetermined desired results with theunfailing reliability and dependability of performance.

To this end, as seen in the drawing there is provided an improvedbubble-ornament device l0 constructed to embody the invention which isseen to include a vertically disposed transparent tube body made ofglass or other translucent ma terial designated as H having an integralclosed lower or bottom end Ha, preferably made flat, and a sealed topend Ilb. Said body portion H, when the device ill is intended tosimulate a' Chrstmas tree decoration may be made in appearance, such asoutline, form, shape and size to simulate a candle,

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube body Iicontains a suitable readily volatilizable liquid l2, such as ether, woodalcoho! or any others, well known in this art which is translucent, hasa low boiling point and preferably is non-flammable such as mixture ofmethanol and carbon tetrachloride or methylene chloride. The liquid I2may be placed into the tube body I! throughv the upper or top end libthereof before fusing the latter for hermetically sealing said liquid i2therein at a level so as to leave an adequate chamber or space l3 insaid tube end ilb. Said sealed space l3 above the liquid l2 may beevacuated to permit lowering the boiling point normally required for theliquid l2. Said space l3 constitutes a condensingand heat dissipatingmeans for liquefaction of bubbles I5 rising in the liquid l2 to thelevel thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

There is also provided a diaphragm it of relatively thin sheet materialfitted or seated in the lower end of tube body H preferably just shortof the said bottom end Ha so-as to leave a shallow chamber or sectionspace H between said diaphragm l6 and bottom end Ha, for retainingactivating vapors [8 generated as a vapor pocket from said liquid l2 inthe manner hereinafter described.

When ether is used as the liquid l2, copper or brass is a desirablesheet material to use for the diaphragm l6 as it forms a protectivemeans to eliminate possible explosive derivatives.

For supplying heat to operate device l0 any suitable source may. beprovided. As for exam ple, as shownin Fig. 1, tube ii is sup-ported withthe lower or bottom end Ha thereof located in close proximity to lampbulb Ella of an incandescent lamp 2%. The latter, as here shown, ismounted inan electric socket 2i of a Christmas tree lighting .outfit(not shown) of any well understood construction by means of a sleeveholder or connector 22 made of fiber, glass, plastic or othernon-combustible material. The lower end 22a of sleeve holder 22 maysnugly fit over the lamp bulb 20a and the upper end 2% fit snugly overthe lower or bottom tube end Ila so that the holder 22 provides a.relatively firm interconnecting support or rigid coupling. The holder 22also serves as a conduit to guide the surrounding air heat conductingmedium from glowing lamp filament 20b of the lamp bulb 20a to the vaporsl8 confined in shallow space i? Within the tube bottom end Ha, thusserving as a direct heating means for said vapor pocket.

In the device Hi shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the diaphragm H is preferablytightly wedged in the position shown about the periphery thereof and maybe provided with an angular edge rim or flange lGb to increase thegripping eifectand to retain the diaphragm it: in set position againstaccident displacement. Said diaphragm is may be perforated with acentral opening Ilia which when said device i9 is operating, communicatethe end of liquid column l2 at the diaphragm #6 with the vapor pocket l8in space I! of limited capacity therebelow to permit the formation ofbubbles 55 in passing of a portion of said vapor pocket through saiddiaphragm opening [6a as hereinafter described.

In practising the invention, assuming the socket 2i is positioned on aChristmas tree (not shown) or arranged for other decorative displaypurposes and connected in an electric circuit power supply (not shown)for lighting the lamp 26 in the well understood manner, heat and lightradiated from the lamp filament 20b is effective to vaporize any liquidI2 in the tube bottom space H and to form said vapor pocket and maintainsaid space H substantially filled with vapor H3.

The heat from lamp filament 20b beside producing said vaporization alsoprovides heat to cause intermittent flash expulsion of a portion of theconfined vapors 18 forming said pocket to expand through said diaphragmopening 16a into the liquid l2 thereabove in the form Of a stream offlowing bubbles I 5 risin through the liquid column l2. The sleeveholder 22 serves as a conduit to confine the heat conducting medium,namely, air, therein. Thusthere is provided the degree of heat necessaryfrom a minimum heat source at lamp filament 20b, sufiicient light beamsfrom the latter being projected through said diaphragm opening [6a toilluminate the liquid column l2 and bubbles l5 to produce an attractiveactivated bubble lighting efiect.

The lighting of bulb 20 also illuminates the side walls of thetransparent tube body H to the top end Hb thereof and imparts anappearance suggestive of a lighted candle.

It has been found an absolutely tight joint between the diaphragm flangeNib and the side walls of the tube body H is not required and that aslight leakage thereat does not afiect the operation of the device In,but provides a drain or seepage of the liquid column l2 into the vaporpocket l8 to replenish the same for the portion thereof forming bubblesl5.

The improved method embodying the invention in the form above describedwill now be apparent.

The column of volatileliquid 2 within the tube body H, which, when saiddevice I!) is operating, extends between the diaphragm is and the toptube space l3, and is under less than atmos pheric pressure because ofthe evacuated condition of said top space l3. Said liquid l2 has ex- 4ternal illuminating radiant heat applied thereto, as by means of theglowing lamp filament 20?), which is directed to maintain bottom spaceI? substantially filled with vapor and said vapor pocket Illbubble-free. Heat from said lamp filament 20b is then being supplied tothe vapor pocket I8 in said space H, that is, in an eiiective degreesuflicient to generate pressure periodically in excess of that due tothe column of liquid 82 whereby flash expulsion of a portion of thevapor pocket l8 takes place intermittently expanding said vapor portionthrough diaphragm opening I Go bubbles l5 which float up in a streamthrough the liquid column 6 2. After each of said flash expulsions thepressure of vapors id in said pocket for an instance apparently isreduced and permits a small amount of liquid 5 2 to trickle into thebottom space it" where it is vaporized for replenishing said bubblelessvapor pocket It. The vapor pressure in said space i? is thussuccessively built up in repeated succession and said flash expulsionspassing through diaphragm opening Isa and expanding form bubbles E5 ofrelative uniform size streaming up through the liquid column V2. Theflowing bubbles l5 rising through liquid column 52 produced are directlyilluminated by light beams emanating from the lamp filament 20b inpassing through said dia phragm openin lBa as seen from Figs. 1 and 2.

The bubbles l5 of the flowing stream on reaching top space i3 afterpassing through the liquid column l2 are cooled, condense and liquifyfor returning to the liquid l2 in tube body l l and thereby replenishingsame to continue the cycle of operation above described as long as'saidilluminating radiant heat from lamp' filament 2th is directed to act onsaid vapors 58 of said pocket in bottom space H. To be more accurate,said bubble-forming action continues to take place as long as thereexists a heat gradient or di lTerenti-al temperature between the hotterportion of the vapor pocket H3 in space H forming bubbles l5 and thecooler liquid after liquefaction of bubbles in evacuated top space Hi. I

In Fig. 4, there is shown a modified form of the invention having adiaphragm 26 which, differs from diaphragm l 6, above described, by.providing in place of central opening ltd, one or more peripherialthrough-passages or grooves 26a between rim edge or flange 26b and theside walls of tube body I! as shown in Fig. 3. The method of operationfor this modified form is the same as has been described with theconstruction assembly using diaphragm l5 and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and2a.. In each construction, like flash expulsfons of said vapor pockets5% and 28 are expanded to form bubbles 55. However; in the modifiedconstruction the bubbles l5 formation takes place through one of saidpassage 25a.

In Fig. 6 still another modified form of the invention is shown. Hereanadditional feature is added in providing granular porous particles 39,such as pumice, which practically fill bottom space 37 except for thevapor pocket 38 to increase the heat conductivity whereby starting ofoperation is facilitated. Diaphragm 36 may have a plurality of spacethrough openings tiia therein and is positioned to keep the eiTecti /evolume for Vapor pocket 38in the space it? relatively small. Thediaphragm openings 360: are preferably made small enough to retainparticles 39 within said space 31 as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Likewise,pumice particles may also be provided in the spaces l7 and 27 of themodifications shown in Figs. 2 and 4, respectively.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 operates in the samemanner as has been described for device H] and shown in Fig. 1, flashexpulsions of vapor 28 and 38 of said pocket in space 27 and 31 formingbubbles i5 when expanding through one or more of said diaphragm passageopenings Zt-a and 36a, respectively.

It is to be understood that each of the modified constructions describedabove may be assembled in holders 22 and supportingly mounted overincandescent lamp 2B in the manner described for device and shown inFig. 1.

It is therefore seen that there is provided improved devices and amethod of operation in which the objects of the invention are achievedand which are well adapted to meet all conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments may be made in the above invention foruse for different purposes and as various changes might be made in theembodiments and method above set forth, it is understood that all theabove matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Thus having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character described producing ornamental bubbleeffects, a vertically disposed sealed transparent tube body, atranslucent low-temperature boiling liquid column filling a mid-portionof said tube body, a thin sheet material diaphragm immovably positionedin the lower end of said tube body just short of the bottom thereof toprovide a limited space thereat, heated vapors of said liquid columnoccupying said space at a pressure to retain the liquid column above thediaphragm, and means carried by the diaphragm communicating said vaporswith the liquid column to permit flash expulsion of expanding portionsof said vapors as bubbles into the liquid column and to permit seepagefrom the liquid column into said space.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said communicating meansincludes a centrally located opening in the diaphragm.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said communicating meansincludes at least one passage between said diaphragm and the adjacentwall of the tube body.

4. In a device of the character described producing ornamental bubbleeffects, a vertically disposed sealed transparent tube body, atranslucent low-temperature boiling liquid column partially filling saidtube body, a thin sheet material diaphragm positioned in the lower endof said tube body to provide a section space at the bottom end thereof,heated vapors of said liquid column expanded to occupy the section spacewith the liquid column retained above said diaphragm, said diaphragmhaving an opening therethrough communicating said vapors with the liquidcolumn to permit flash expulsion of expanding portions of said vapors asbubbles up through said opening and into the liquid column, said tubebody formed with a heat dissipating upper end above the level of saidliquid column to which the bubbles rising in the column pass forliquefaction, and heating means of sufiicient supply directed to theflash expulsion vapors in the said section space for producing theornamental bubble effects.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 in which said diaphragm opening iscentrally located.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 in which said tube body lower end isprovided with porous particles under said diaphragm.

'7. A device as defined in claim 4 in which said diaphragm openingcomprises a passage between said diaphragm and the adjacent wall of thetube body.

8. In a device of the character described producing ornamental bubbleeffects, a vertically disposed sealed tube body having a lower end, acolumn of low-temperature boiling liquid column partially filling saidtube body, a thin sheet material diaphragm independently formed of saidtube body positioned in said lower tube end in close proximity to thebottom thereof to provide a section space under said diaphragm andhaving at least one opening therein for communication between oppositesides thereof, and means carried by said diaphragm for retaining thelatter in said position against movement.

' 9. The device as defined in claim 8 in which porous particles occupysaid space.

10. A device for producing ornamental bubble effects comprising avertically disposed sealed transparent tubular body, a column ofvolatile liquid under reduced atmospheric pressure contained therein, arelatively thin wall partitioning means to form a vapor pocket ofpredetermined capacity, said means including an annular portionimmovably engaging a lower portion of said tubular body, andcommunicating means extending through said partitioning means to releaseand expand for flash expulsion portions of said vapor'as bubbles fromsaid pocket into the liquid column.

11. The device as defined in claim 4 in which said thin sheet materialdiaphragm is characterized by an annular flange immovably engaging saidtube body.

ABRAHAM ABRAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,353,063 Otis July 4, 19442,383,941 Otis Sept. 4, 1945

